Jaime Lubin from
the Huffington Post has written this wonderful review of Alan Doyle’s City
Winery show in New York City mentioned in the previous post. I always love
Jaime’s reviews of the shows she attends
because she is not only a writer but a music fan of all things Great Big
Sea, Alan Doyle and the Russell Crowe Indoor Garden Parties. Many thanks to
Jaime for sharing her thoughts about this fabulous night with us. I have shared
a copy of the full article on my Google + page.
Some quotes from the article “The Night Loves Them: Alan Doyle and the Beautiful Gypsies Come to City Winery” by Jaime Lubin for the Huffington Post on 6 May 2015 (no copyright infringement intended)
On the material
“…The evening’s chosen songs reflected the
artist’s constant globetrotting in a collective travelogue or sorts; Great Big
Sea standards material composed in Hollywood, Nashville, Ireland and Australia.
And in between Alan never let an opportunity to thrill slip by, instead conjuring
up anecdotes so sensuously detailed that the whole room was spellbound…”
On the Beautiful
Gypsies
“…All five performers seemed exactly in sync
with Alan as they managed a waltz in one number and a mock square dance in
another, never letting go of their instruments or missing a beat for a second.
Violinist Kendel Carson, whose work has always stunned me, brought new depth to
the Great Big Sea favourite “When I’m Up” with her fiery fiddle-playing: later,
she and guitarist Cory Tetford shared a gorgeous duet in “Shine One’ both
unleashing vibrant voices that cause one to wonder when they might record a
single together. Todd Lumley on keyboard and accordion lent several songs a
homespun touch, making the cavernous venue suddenly as intimate as a Newfoundland
kitchen party. Kris Macfarlane on drums and Shehab Lllyas on base were the
night’s unsung heroes, providing powerful undercurrents to the music that hit
listeners straight in the heart”...
On Scott Grimes
“…It was a poorly kept secret that actor-musician
Scott Grimes (Justified, American Dad) would be onboard for the festivities,
and the redhead of unparalleled voice did not disappoint. Together he and best
friend Alan rocked the house with their co-write “I’m Goin’ Home” a moving
tribute to those affected by the Boston Marathon. And in one of the gig’s
particular highlights, the two master showmen dueted again to cover Billy Joel’s
Scenes m an Italian Restaurant…just watching Scott and Alan’s obvious joy in
playing together was several concerts worth of uplifting…”
On Owen
O’Suilleabhain and Oscar Isaac
“…Less publicised but utterly enthralling
were the two guest artists who sang their own co-writes with Doyle: Irish
musician Owen O’Suilleabhain who performed a lyrically delicious ode to his and
Alan’s heritage called “Irish Hearts are Hard to Break” and actor Oscar Isaac
(Inside Llewyn Davis, a Most Violent Year) charmed the assembly with “Never
Had,” his theme from the movie 10 Years...”
On the audience
“…Hey, when every inch of a major New York
venue’s 21000 square feet is filled with people jumping, stamping their feet,
screaming, “Amen! Hallelujah!” and wildly applauding each lyric, you know
you’re in the presences of something divine…”
